Hackers on Reddit: You should be aware of this

The hacker attack on Reddit in June 2018 left many users unsettled and with many questions. We give you an overview of what exactly happened and what you should consider.

Hackers on Reddit: That happened

Many people have heard about the attack on Reddit, but only affected users have been extensively informed about it. Here are the details.

• On June 19, Reddit operators discovered that a vulnerability had been exploited. A week and a half later, it was announced which users and which data were affected.
• The attackers gained access to backup data, source code and other log files. These also contained information about "safe-for-work" subreddits visited by users.
• In addition, a backup of a database was stolen, which covered the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. It contained usernames, email addresses and encrypted passwords.
• The attack on Reddit was targeted at Reddit admins with access to sensitive data. The attackers intercepted the tokens, which are transmitted via SMS using 2-factor authentication. They then had control over developer accounts with access to the data.

You should do this for your protection

With a few measures, you can protect yourself from the possible consequences of the hack.

• First of all, you should find out whether you are affected by the incident at all. If you had an account on Reddit between 2005 and 2007, you are likely to be affected.
• In this case Reddit should have already sent you an email asking you to change your password. If this is not the case, you should do so as soon as possible.
• If you have also used the same password for other accounts, you should change this as soon as possible. We'll show you how to create a secure password and what to look out for.